Finglas locals continue pushback on 18,500-home Dunsink plan: 'An unfair burden'

Finglas residents have continued to resist the draft plan for the Dunsink City Quarter, stating they have not been properly consulted regarding the impact 18,500 new homes will have on their community and are calling for a "more transparent and meaningful consultation process"

Comments News Stephen Holland Local Democracy Reporter 12:05, 04 Aug 2026 Updated 12:05, 04 Aug 2026 View 4 Images A computer-generated image of the proposed Dunsink developmen (Image: Fingal County Council)

Finglas residents feel they are being asked to carry “the impacts of a major new town” without having a “meaningful voice in shaping it”.

Residents of Finglas are calling on Fingal County Council to reconsider key elements of the Draft Dunsink Urban Area Plan . They are arguing that the current proposed development of approximately 18,500 homes places a disproportionate share of the impacts on Finglas while failing to provide the infrastructure, environmental safeguards and meaningful public engagement that a development of this scale demands.

The public consultation stage for the Dunsink City Quarter came to an end last Friday, but the process saw major pushback from those living on the border between Fingal County Council and Dublin City Council. Residents took issue with the limited public engagement on their side of the border, criticising a lack of information events held in Finglas itself and stating many only became aware of the proposals through neighbours and community groups rather than direct communication from the council.

An estimated 18,500 homes are also set to be delivered in three phases: Phase 1 will see the construction of an initial 2,500 homes, Phase 2 a further 8,000, and a final phase of 8,000 - with exact timelines still to be confirmed.

While residents state they “recognise the urgent need for new housing,” in a statement issued to the media, they said “Finglas is being asked to absorb the majority of the consequences”. “The Draft Plan proposes high-density development, significant building heights (some as large as 15 plus storeys) and the routing of major transport infrastructure through existing residential communities,” they said.

A key point of concern according to residents is proposals affecting Scribblestown Lane and Dunsinea Lane. Described as “two historic rural lanes that support important biodiversity corridors and form part of the area's cultural heritage,” they fear road widening and increased traffic would permanently damage these landscapes and require the loss of parts of Tolka Valley Park.

Further concerns relate to the proposed development beside the former Dunsink Landfill , where residents are seeking greater transparency and independently verified environmental assessments before any construction proceeds. A Fingal County Council spokesperson stated that the landfill has already undergone “formal restoration and closure process” and gave assurances that the proposed Regional Park and Recreational Hub will “provide a significant community resource” while “supporting biodiversity and broader environmental enhancement objectives”.

With a potential incoming population “comparable to Longford” and “bigger than Swords,” Finglas residents are calling for:

Helping to lead the campaign is Finglas local and Scribblestown Lane resident Niamh Lambert who stressed “Finglas supports new homes” but that the local authority must “build responsibility”. “Finglas should not be expected to absorb the traffic, construction, environmental impacts and high-density development for an entirely new town without the infrastructure, environmental protections and genuine engagement that any community deserves,” she said.

View 4 Images Scribblestown resident Niamh Lambert pictured Tolka Valley Park, Finglas (Image: Stephen Holland)

“The authority promoting this plan is Fingal County Council, yet the communities expected to experience many of the impacts are in Finglas, within Dublin City Council boundary. Residents feel they have been asked to carry the impacts of a major new town without having had a meaningful voice in shaping it. We want a plan that is fair, sustainable and respects the people who already call Finglas home."

During the public consultation process several politicians made submissions outlining their own points of concern. Fianna Fáil TD Paul McAuliffe said it is important to consider the “sheer scale” of what is being proposed. He highlighted that the 435 hectare Dunsink site is “60% the size of Phoenix Park” and that an incoming population of around 46,000 new residents is a population “larger than Finglas itself”.

“There also remains a concern about the phasing of the development in relation to its geographic location on the Plan. It appears this is skewed in the direction of Finglas, which has the potential to result in the initial phases of the development heavily relying on the existing infrastructure rather than future proofing the development,” he said.

“Residents are very concerned that the Finglas side will see immediate development while the remainder of the site will remain unchanged for many many years. There are also residents’ concerns about some of the proposed heights which if placed beside existing homes would be vastly greater than the traditional 2 story dwellings that exist in the nearby estates. The stepping up principle must be generously applied on such a large site.”

Sinn Féin TD Dessie Ellis pointed out that the existing roads around Finglas, especially Ratoath Road are “already heavily congested and are at capacity”. His submission highlighted the need to appropriately address the increased demand on local roads as a result of the development.

Dublin city councillors in the North West Area have not been shy about their apprehension around the development and even issued a joint statement calling on Fingal County Council to extend the consultation period last month - which was ultimately rejected. Sinn Féin Cllr Anthony Connaghan stated he is concerned about the “reliance on Dunsink Lane and Scribblestown Lane as the principal access routes for the development”.

“ Scribblestown Lane, in particular, runs alongside a sensitive section of the River Tolka corridor and retains much of its rural character. Significant traffic increases, road widening and associated infrastructure could have a detrimental impact on biodiversity, landscape character and local amenity,” he said.

Fianna Fáil Cllr Keith Connolly described the lack of coordination between the DCC and Fingal’s local authority as “quite startling”. He called out the effect the development will have on Finglas South for “traffic movements, public transport demand, active travel connections, school capacity and community infrastructure”.

In contrast, the launch of the draft urban plan was welcomed by Mayor of Fingal Cllr Tony Murphy who described the Dunsink City Quarter as a “transformational, people-first development that will provide not just high-quality homes, but a vibrant new community”. “This ambitious plan will deliver a climate-resilient, well-connected urban quarter, designed around the principles of compact living, sustainable transport and rich natural heritage,” he said.

When contacted about the lack of engagement with Finglas residents last month, a Fingal County Council spokesperson stated: “Copies of the draft plan are available online, in all libraries in Fingal, in the Fingal County Council offices in Swords and Blanchardstown, the Finglas library and the Dublin City Council Area Office in Finglas. A public information event was also held in Blanchardstown on Monday 13th July. A large number of submissions have been received by Fingal County Council.”

Regarding environmental concerns they stated: “Importantly, the Draft Urban Area Plan does not in itself grant permission for development. Any future development proposals will be subject to separate planning applications and statutory approval processes. At that stage, detailed site-specific environmental assessments will be required and the potential impacts on biodiversity, habitats, wildlife corridors and surrounding natural assets, including the Tolka Valley, will be fully assessed and addressed through the planning process.

This content is funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme

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